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lie. 24,282

Feb. 26, 1957 H. P. BAIR COMBINED STEPLADDER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 OriginalFiled Sept. 12, 1952 FIG.5.

INVENTOR- HARRY P. BAIR ATTORNEY Feb. 26, 1957 H. P. BAIR' R 24,232

comamzo STEPLADDEB Original Filed Sept. 12. 1952 s Sheets-Sheet 2 YINVENTOR HARRY P. BAIR ATTORNEY Feb. 26, 1957 H. P. BAIR Re. 24,

COMBINED STEPLADDER Original Filed Sept. 12, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 F I Gl O INVENTOR HA R R Y P. BA l R United States Patent Ofilice Re. 24,282Reissuecl Feb. 26, 1957 COMBINED STEPLADDER Harry P. Bair, Baltimore,Md., assignor of fifty percent to Roger I. Bair, Baltimore, Md.

Original No. 2,675,155, dated April 13, 1954, Serial No. 309,315,September 12, 1952. Application for reissue April 28, 1955, Serial No.504,706

Claims. (Cl. 228-49) Matter enclosed in heavy brackets appears in theoriginal patentbut forms no part of this reissue specification; matterprinted in italics indicates the additions made by reissue.

This invention relates to a combination ladder and has for its primaryobject a ladder which may be employed as a step ladder and which may bereadily converted into an extension ladder.

Another object is to enable the sect-ions of the ladder' to beseparated, and readily and easily reassembled, so that they may be usedindependently of one another either as individual units or jointly insupporting a scaffold.

Still another object is to brace the step section of the ladder toeliminate side sway and to reinforce the steps to render them strong and:durable.

A still further object is to facilitate the suspension of paint pails,scrub buckets and the like in such a manner that the bails thereof areheld out of the way of the open tops of the buckets. V

A further important object of this invention is to enable the ladder tobe used on stairways or the like and to preserve its stability when soused [I] the adaptation or change from its previous position to that forplacing on a stairway being efi'ecied without disassembling or removingof bolts or other extra parts.

The above and other objects may be attained by employing this inventionwhich embodies among its features a step section carrying laterallyextending parallel brackets adjacent i upper end, said brackets havingrecesses opening through the upper edges thereof adjacent theendsthereof remote from the step section and extending longitudinally towardthe step section to define hooks which project away from the stepsection, a prop section extending between the brackets, pins carried bythe prop section and extending laterally therefrom adjacent the upperend thereof for entering the recesses and engaging the bottom edges ofthe hooks for detachably coupling the step and prop sections together,and links pivotally connected to the step section and adapted to engagethe prop section remote from the pins to hold the step and prop sectionsat a definite angle to one another.

Other features include guides carried by the brackets and partiallyembracing the side rails of the prop section to guide the prop sect-ionrelative to the step section both when the prop section is used as aprop, or an extension of the step section.

The invention includes the provision of simple and efiective means forsecurely holding the ladder sections in any of the given positions, andparticularly for preventing relative movement between the prop sectionand the step section.

[A further important feature of this invention includes] As hereillustrated, for this purpose I have provided hooks carried by theguides and extending outwardly and downwardly from adjacent sidesthereof for receiving the links and holding them extending betweenadjacent rungs of the prop section.

Still other features include the depending truss member carried by eachstep of the step section midway between opposite side rails of said stepsection and a tie bar extending through the side rails of the stepsection below {each step] one or more of the steps thereof and engagingthe truss member in such a manner as to be bowed thereby, to support itsrespective step and prevent side sway of the step section.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a side View of this improved combination ladder showing itin use as a step ladder,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view of the ladder illustrated in Figure 1from the front side thereof,

Figure 3 is a side view of the ladder showing it in use as an extensionladder,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view of Figure 3 taken from the inner sidethereof,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view 011 an enlarged scale of the top ofthe ladder as illustrated in Figure 1,

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of one corner of thestep section of the ladder,

Figure 7 is a fragmentary face view of the step section,

Figure 8 is a perspective view of one of the brackets employed incoupling the step section with the prop section,

Figure 9 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken substantially onthe line 99 of Figure 3,

Figure 10 is a side view of the ladder showing it in use on a [starway]stairway, and

Figure 11 is an enlarged detail sectional view of Figure 10.

Referring to the drawings as here shown in detail this improvedcombination ladder comprises a step section designated generally 10which is constructed of elongated side rails 12 which are provided withtransversely extending grooves 14 for the reception of opposite ends ofsteps 16. Carried by each side rail 12 immediately below each groove 14is an angle bracket 18 the upper flange of which lies flush with thebottom edge of the adjacent groove, and formed in each side rail 12 andangle bracket 18 are aligning openings 20, the purpose of which willhereinafter appear. Carried by and depending from each step 16 midwaybetween opposite ends thereof is a truss member 22 and extending throughthe openings 20 in the side rails 12 and engaging the lower edge of thetruss member 22 is a tie rod 24 which is preferably threaded adjacentopposite ends to receive clamp nuts 26 by which the side rails are drawninwardly into tight contact with the ends of the steps 16 to not onlyreinforce and brace the respective steps 16 but also to avoid side swayof the step section 10 when in use.

As in conventional step ladders, the top step 28 thereof extends beyondopposite ends of the top edges of the side rails 12 and the step 28 iscoupled adjacent its opposite ends to the side rails by angle brackets30 each of which is provided with a depending extension 32 to which ispivotally connected as at 34 a link 36 having a notch 38 extendingtherethrough adjacent its end remote from the pivot 34 for a purpose tobe more fully hereinafter explained. Carried by each bracket 36 andextending over the rear face of an adjacent side rail 12 is a flange 40having a guide shoe or tongue 42 integral therewith which shoe or tongueoverlies a portion of the adjacent top step 28 as will be readilyunderstood upon reference to Fig. 6.

Carried by each side rail 12 and extending rearwardly therefrom is abracket designated generally 44 comprising the body 46 which isconnected to the adjacent side rail 12 and carries an [angular]angnlarly extending flange 48 at its upper edge which is attached to thetop step 28 adjacent an end thereof. Extending from the rear edge of theplate 46 is an arm 50 which lies parallel with the top step 28 and isprovided adjacent its end remote from the plate 46 with a slot 52 whichopens through the upper edge of the arm 50 and extends toward the baseplate 46 in spaced parallel relation to the upper edge of the arm 50 todefine the hook 54, the purpose of which will hereinafter appear.Carried by and extending laterally from each arm 50 remote from eachbase plate 46 is an extension 56 carrying adjacent its end remote fromthe arm a flange 58 which lies in spaced parallel relation to the arm 50and forms in conjunction with the extension 56 a hook shaped guidedesignated generally 59 which is adapted to partially embrace a siderail of the prop section of the ladder to be more fully hereinafterdescribed. Struck from and extending outwardly from the flange 58 is ahook 60 which opens downwardly as illustrated in Fig. 6 and is adaptedto receive the upper edge of the link 36 in order to cooperate with thearm 50 in forming a guide which completely embraces the side rail of theprop section of the ladder. A hook 62 is struck from and opens upwardlywith relation to the arm 50 for engaging the hail of a paint pail,bucket or the like.

The prop section of the ladder designated generally 64 comprises spacedparallel elongated side rails 66 which are provided with longitudinallyspaced openings 68 for the reception of transversely extending rungs 70,the topmost of which has threadedly engaged in opposite ends a shank 72of a pin 74 which projects laterally beyond its adjacent side rail andis adapted to enter the slot 52 in an arm 50 and engage the under sideof the hook 54 thereof when the device is in use as a step ladder.

Carried by the side rails 12 of the step section of the ladder andextending rearwardly therefrom adjacent the step 16 nearest the top step28 are rung receiving hooks 76 which open upwardly as illustrated in thedrawings for receiving a rung 70 of the [top] prop section 64 when thedevice is used as an extension ladder.

In use when this combination ladder is employed as a step ladder, theparts are assembled substantially as illustrated in Fig. 1 with the pins74 engaging the under sides of the hooks 54 and the links 36 swungdownwardly as suggested in Fig. l and engaging hook members 78 carriedby opposite side rails 66 of the front section 64 near the upper endsthereof. The [front] prop section and engaged [between] with the hooks60 [and their respective guides 59] so that the links then extend acrossthe path of movement of the rungs 70. In this position the prop sectionis moved until the lower rung 70 of the pair of adjacent rungs betweenwhich the links 36 extend will engage both of these [the] links 36 andarrest up Ward movement of the prop section relative to the step sectionso that when the ladder is placed on a stairway as shown in Figure 10,the step section will be held in proper position for use on the steps ofthe stairway. Fig. 11 illustrates one of'the links being pushed upwardlyinto engagement with the hooks 60.

What is claimed is:

1. In a combination ladder of the type comprising a step section and a.prop section having spaced elongated side rails and longitudinallyspaced parallel rungs carried by the side rails and extendingtherebetween, spaced parallel brackets carried by the step section andextending outwardly therefrom adjacent the upper end thereof, hookshaped guides carried by the brackets remote from the step section forpartially embracing the side rails of the prop section and slidablycoupling said prop section to said step section, hooks carried by theguides and extending outwardly and downwardly from adjacent sidesthereof, and links carried by the step section and adapted to be engagedwith said hooks for engaging a rung of the prop section and arrestingupward movement of the prop section relative to the step section.

2. In a combination ladder of the type comprising a step section and aprop section having spaced elongated side rails and longitudinallyspaced parallel rungs carried by the side rails and extendingtherebetween, spaced parallel brackets carried by the step section andextending outwardly therefrom adjacent the upper end thereof, hookshaped guides carried by the brackets remote from the step section forpartially embracing the side rails of the prop section and slidablycoupling said prop section to said step section, hooks carried by theguides and extending outwardly and downwardly from adjacent sides there-64 is thus held in proper relation to the step section 10 5 to bring thesteps 16 substantially horizontal as will be readily understood uponreference to Fig. 1. With the parts thus assembled, a pail P may besuspended by its bail from the hook 62 within easy reach of the user ofthe ladder. When the device is to be used as an extension ladder asillustrated in Fig. 3, the pins 74 are disengaged from their locationsbeneath the hooks 54 and the prop section is slid longitudinally of thestep section 10 with the side rails 66 lying parallel to the side rails12. When the desired length of extension is attained, a rung of the propsection 64 is seated in the hooks 76 and the links 36 are moved upwardlyabout their pivots 34 to engage the hooks 60 in. order that the rails 66of the prop section 64 are completely embraced by the members 44 andlinks 36. It will thus be seen that the prop section will be held inproperly assembled relation with the step section so that the ladder mayserve as an extension ladder. When it is desired to support a scaffoldor the like between the ladder sections 10 and 64, the extension section64 may be entirely disengaged from the brackets 44 and the laddersections 10 and 64 rested against opposite Walls of a room so that ascaffold may be supported on the steps 16 and rungs 70 at a selectedheight from the floor. I

When the ladder is to be used on a stairway the links 36 are swung abouttheir pivots 34 to lie within the perimeter of the side rails 12 of thestep section 10. This will enable the prop section 64 to be movedlongitudinally relative to the step section 10. When the prop section isin the selected position [desired adjustment is achieved], the links 36are moved about their pivots .34

of, and links carried by the step section and adapted to be engaged withsaid hooks for engaging a rung of the prop section and arresting upwardmovement of the prop section relative to the step section, said bracketshaving recesses [opening through] formed in the upper edges thereofadjacent the ends thereof remote from the step section and extendinglongitudinally toward the step section to define hooks which projectaway from the step section, said prop section extending between thebrackets, pins carried by the prop section and extending laterallytherefrom adjacent the upper end thereof for entering the recesses andengaging the bottom edges of said last named hooks.

3. In an extension ladder, the combination of a prop section and asteplodder section each having side rails and rungs and steps,respectively, and adapted to be used on level surfaces or on stairways,and comprising means for pivotally connecting the two sections and saidmeans including means extending around and slidabl'y embracing the siderails of the prop section permitting longitudinal movement of the propsection relative to the step section, said latter means extending fromthe step section to the prop section at a position below the top of thestep section and acting to limit the spreading action of the sectionswhen the sections are at an acute angle and resting on a level surfaceand while the prop section is being pressed against the top 0) the stepsection, the prop secti n having spaced rigid shoulder surfacescorresponding to the spacing of the rungs of the prop section, elementscarried by the step section and adapted to engage said shoulder surfaceswhen the prop section is at difiercnt elevated positions with relationto the step section and while the sections are at an included acuteangle and each section is at an angle from the vertical.

4. The structure defined in claim 3 in which the elements engaging thespaced shoulders on the prop section are links pivoted to the stepsection, and the means slidably embracing the side rails of the propsection is pr0- vided with a rigid stop adapted to engage said links andlimit upward movement thereof.

5. The combinatiOn ladder defined in claim 1 in which said links arepivoted to the step section and in which fixed means are mounted on theprop section adapted to be engaged by said links to brace the sectionsagainst spreading movement.

References Cited in the file of this patent or the original patentUNITED STATES PATENTS Tannenberg Nov. 8, 1892 Dyer June 23, 1896 ShieldsAug. 16, 1910

